INHALATION (from Lat. inhalare, to in hale. from in, in halare, to breathe). In medi cine, a term used to signify the receiving into the lungs of vapors or gases for producing anes thesia, or for curative purposes. The ordinary manner of administering chloroform is as follows: Over a skeleton wire pan, the size and shape of a small deep saucer. a flannel hag is drawn. Chlo roform is dropped on the bag, and the contrivance is inverted over the patient's nose and mouth. To give ether. a large square nose-bag is made by folding fairly strong paper inside of a towel and then doubling the double fabric together and fastening it with safety plus. Less wasteful and more exact in the amount used, as well as vastly more elegant, are the regular inhalers, apparatus designed for the purpose and made of metal and rubber. Such an apparatus is neces sary for the administration of nitrous oxide, or 'laughing gas.' (Set .EsTitEsi A.) The vapor of hot water is employed in throat diseases, often great relief : and medicinal substances, such as benzoinol and camphor, are sometimes used in conjunction, but it is often desirable to list the watery vapor without any combination.
A very convenient and. in the absence of other apparatus, the only available way, is to place a funnel over an open vessel containing hot water, and inhale the hot vapor through the spout. A deep vessel. such as a two-quart earthen pitcher, may be used, containing a pint of boiling water— the patient breathing from the open mouth, put ting his face close over the vessel, with care to moderate the heat of the contents. The vapor of carbolic. acid is often beneficial as an inhalant, and may be administered in a similar manlier. There are various kinds of apparatus for in halation. with the common object of introducing vapor to the lungs in the proper strength or tem perature. and due admixture of air. Oxygen is administered by inhalation in many diseases. es. peeially in anemia and pnemnonia. It is given from a eylinder from which it escapes as regu lated by a cork, passing through a 'wash-bottle' containing water before it reaches the tithe. or inhaler, held in the patient's nostril or month.